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Daniel Vettori has been on the international scene so long it is sometimes hard to believe he has only recently crossed into his thirties. The youngest man to play Test cricket for New Zealand, at the age of 18, he is one of only eight players to have managed the double of 300 Test wickets and 3000 runs. With time on his side, he could one day creep up towards Hadlee's 431 Test dismissals, but to do that Vettori would need to avoid the stress fractures in his back that troubled him earlier in his career. He also cannot afford another form slump like the one he suffered in 2003-04.

He bounced back from that one, returning to his best, and his mastery of drift and subtle variations in flight, speed and length earned him a reputation as New Zealand's most dangerous player. It was that guile and ability to confuse the batsmen that sometimes turned what seemed like innocuous deliveries into unplayable hand grenades by the time they reached the other end.

He troubled Australia with 12 for 149 at Eden Park in March 2000, giving him his first ten-wicket Test. He continued to peak whenever he faced Australia, and also feasted against Bangladesh in 2004, taking 20 for 224 in the two-match rout. He was recognised alongside Muttiah Muralitharan as one of the best spinners outside Australia for the Super Series in 2005-06, and was one of six players to represent the World XI in the Test and all three one-dayers.

A more than handy lower-order batsman, he is the most prolific No. 8 in Tests. He was installed as captain for the Twenty20 World Championship in 2007 and took over from Fleming as the Test captain ahead of their two-Test tour of South Africa. However, retirements and the ICL saw New Zealand slip in the world rankings, and Vettori was saddled with more responsibilities than he could have imagined - including that of selector in 2009. Positive results, especially in Tests, were hard to come by but it didn't affect Vettori's form, and on many occasions his lower-order batting has come to the rescue. Brydon Coverdale

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Timeline

January 18-21, 1997 First sightings

At the age of 17, makes his first-class debut for Northern Districts against the touring England side in Hamilton, and snares Nasser Hussain as his first wicket, caught at slip attempting a drive.

February 6-10, 1997 Test cricketer at 18

Makes Test debut barely three weeks later, against the same opposition. Despite having turned 18 in the meantime, is still the youngest man to play Test cricket for New Zealand. Takes 2 for 98 and his first victim is, once again, Hussain.

March 25, 1997 Youngest in ODIs

Becomes New Zealand's youngest ODI player when he lines up against Sri Lanka. Is only given two overs, which cost 21 runs.

Captains New Zealand for the first time in an ODI. They enjoy a comfortable 138-run win over Bangladesh.

February, 2005 Opening up in domestic cricket

Used as an opener by Northern Districts in limited-overs cricket, rewards them with two consecutive centuries. The first is a hefty 109 in a big win over Auckland, but three days later crushes that record with 138 from 111 balls in a semi-final against Canterbury.

March, 2005 Recognition at home

Is named New Zealand's Player of the Year, just reward for a season that includes 42 Test wickets at 27 and 22 ODI victims at 20.

Traps Heath Streak lbw in the Harare Test to become the third New Zealand bowler to reach 200 Test wickets, joining Chris Cairns and Richard Hadlee. Also has a match to remember for his blistering 82-ball century, the fastest by a New Zealander in Test cricket.

October, 2005 One of the best

Is recognised with a place in the World XI side for the Super Series against Australia, and is the only New Zealander in the squad. Troubles Australia with 4 for 33 in the first ODI, and is one of six World XI stars to play in all three limited-overs games and the Super Test.

December, 2005 Succession plan?

With Stephen Fleming incapacitated, Vettori takes over the captaincy for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series, which New Zealand lose 2-1.

In his fourth Test, Vettori makes use of a sub-standard pitch to bowl New Zealand to a 120-run victory over Sri Lanka. It is a low-scoring match - the hosts make 222 and 273 - but Vettori's knowledge of his home ground gives New Zealand the edge. He warms up with four victims in the first innings and then in the second, as Sri Lanka chase an unlikely 326, he secures his first five-wicket haul in a Test. The 18-year-old Vettori is named Man of the Match.

5 for 62 and 7 for 87 v Australia, Auckland, 1999-2000

Most bowlers would hope that match figures of 12 for 149 would be enough to set up a win. In Auckland, Vettori discovers that a Man-of-the-Match performance is a hollow reward when the team is defeated. Almost singlehandedly, Vettori gives the hosts a chance with a remarkable display that includes seven second-innings wickets. The target of 281 is too tall for his batting team-mates, however, as Colin Miller and Shane Warne also extract plenty of turn. Vettori's haul remains his best in a Test.

6 for 87 and 2 for 142 v Australia, Perth, 2001-02

Another Man-of-the-Match effort for Vettori and another missed opportunity for New Zealand. After four New Zealanders pile on centuries Australia want to score just as voluminously. Vettori has other ideas and grabs six wickets including both Waughs, Adam Gilchrist, and famously Shane Warne for 99. The visitors have a 183-run lead and with the first two Tests of the three-match series drawn, they want a celebrated series win. But in the second innings the Australian wickets just don't tumble. Vettori claims 2 for 142, secures a run-out and thinks he has Steve Waugh caught behind for 13. The umpire disagrees, and the series is drawn 0-0.

It is hardly a thrilling climax to the NatWest Series - Wisden describes it as "a one-sided final played out between showers made a fitting end to this unmemorable tournament". Vettori would remember the game, though, as it brought his best figures in a one-day international. He troubles the West Indies middle order with 5 for 30 and completes two run-outs as New Zealand triumphed.

2 for 26 and 6 for 28 v Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2004-05

The competition might not have been the fiercest Vettori has faced, but a match haul of 8 for 54 is just what he needs. His previous nine Tests have brought only 16 wickets as he has struggled for impact against England, Pakistan, India and South Africa. He works hard in the first innings for little reward - 2 for 26 from 29 overs - but exploits the conditions beautifully in the second. His 6 for 28 is his first five-wicket haul in nearly three years, and New Zealand secure victory with five sessions remaining.

6 for 70 and 6 for 100 v Bangladesh, Chittagong, 2004-05

As if to confirm that he really is back, Vettori follows the Dhaka Test with an even more productive outing in Chittagong. He goes for a few more runs but a 12-wicket haul - his second in Tests - seals the Man-of-the-Series title and tells the world Vettori is a threat once more. He finishes the tour with 20 victims at 11.20, the best figures recorded by a New Zealand bowler in a two-Test series.

About a year later Vettori continues his minnow-bashing in Harare, but this time he does most of his damage with the bat. His second Test century is the fastest ever by a New Zealander, coming from 82 balls. By the time he finally departs for 127, he has belted 20 fours and two sixes. It is all the more remarkable considering his lucky escape on 67 - he plays on to Heath Streak, but the bail bounces into the air and lands back on the stump at right angles, meaning technically it is not dislodged. For good measure, Vettori backs up with match figures of 6 for 29, although his victims were mostly tailenders.

4 for 33 v Australia, Melbourne, 2005-06

As if Vettori has not endured enough occasions when New Zealand have lost despite his heroics, this time the same happens with the World XI. In the first Super Series ODI Vettori has the ball on a string, showing off his subtle variations in line, length, flight and turn. He grabs the key wickets of Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Shane Watson, and ensures the World XI chase a gettable 256. They are dismissed for 162.

5 for 59, 4 for 74, 55* and 76, Chittagong, 2008-09

This is as much a man can make a Test his own. Vettori's five-for first limits Bangladesh to 245, but it's only thanks to an unbeaten 55 that New Zealand - 100 for 7 at one stage - trail by just 74. Vettori's four-for in the second innings means New Zealand are left to chase 317 to avoid a humiliating defeat, and the batsmen are still struggling. Vettori promotes himself to No. 4, taking all the pressure upon himself, scoring a gritty 76 at a strike-rate of 35 to set up a scrappy three-wicket win.

As the captain and best player in the team, Vettori is comfortably the most important man in New Zealand's World Cup campaign. Opposition batsmen are often content to see him off and attack the fast bowlers, but New Zealand are at their best when Vettori is also outsmarting batsmen and taking wickets. On the subcontinental pitches, he must use his own bowling as an attacking option. He is also one of the more reliable batsmen in New Zealand's order, although his impact in ODIs has not been as great as in Tests. He is the only man in the squad to have been to three previous World Cups, although he did not play a game in 1999.

Strengths

subtle variations in length and pace mean he usually bowls economically; as a batsman, finds the gaps frequently and rarely gets tied down.

Key stats

Vettori is one of 12 players who have scored over 2000 runs and picked up over 200 wickets in ODIs

Among spinners who have picked up at least 200 wickets in ODIs, Vettori's economy rate of 4.13 is second only to Muttiah Muralitharan's 3.92

In global tournaments, Vettori has picked up 34 wickets at 34.17 with one five-wicket haul

All stats are updated till the start of the World Cup

World Cup tracker

Vettori really struggled in 2003, when he took only two wickets in his seven matches. But in 2007 he was New Zealand's leading wicket taker with 16 at 27.93 and helped them to a semi-final, although his best of 4 for 23 came against the minnows of Ireland.

Expert view

"You'd back him to do well with the ball in those conditions, and he might have to come to the rescue with the bat as well. We all know his star quality and all-round ability."- Danny Morrison, former New Zealand fast bowler

Brydon Coverdale

Best Performances

41 and 3 for 43 v Pakistan, Champions Trophy, 2009

Proved he can be a matchwinner in big games when he made 41 and took 3 for 43 to drive New Zealand to victory in the 2009 Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan

5 for 30 v West Indies, 2004

Was the Man of the Match in the Natwest Series final against West Indies in 2004, when his 5 for 30 confirmed New Zealand's triumph